Golf programs at HBCUs like Howard University and Winston-Salem State University will be receiving $10,000 each thanks to an airline and golf organization. Get the full story from Kyle T. Mosley at Sports Illustrated below.
HBCU golf programs will receive travel support from United Airlines and the PGA Tour. The airline and sports organization have partnered to provide $10,000 to help get HBCU men and women golfers with traveling expenses while competing across the United States. Talent is abundant at golf programs, but they are usually under-funded in travel to and from tournaments.
According to the United and the PGA program, the grants will alleviate “one of the biggest barriers to golf programs’ growth and success – limited access to funds for air travel.
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United’s and PGA’s Official Announcement
United Airlines along with the PGA TOUR today announced that United will award 51 men’s and women’s golf teams at Historically Black Colleges and Universities with more than half a million dollars in grants, divided equally among the schools, to fund travel for golf tournaments and recruiting efforts. divided equally among the schools, to fund travel for golf tournaments and recruiting efforts. The donation is part of United Airlines and the PGA TOUR’s shared commitment to diversify and grow the sport and provide resources that allow HBCUs to recruit and compete at the highest levels of collegiate golf.
Each school will receive $10,000 in travel credits, enabling more than 250 student-athletes, coaches and their equipment to fly United to compete in high-profile tournaments that were previously out of reach. HBCU golf coaches attribute the lack of access to air travel among the greatest barriers to developing successful golf programs.
“Removing barriers for HBCU students to have the same opportunities given to other collegiate athletes will open doors for countless young Black golfers to achieve their dreams and for HBCU golf programs to develop to their full potential,” said United President Brett Hart. “United is committed to advancing inclusion and racial equity and that begins with making meaningful mentorship and scholarship investments in the communities we serve.”
These grants will allow each team the opportunity to attend more tournaments this season, including events like the prestigious PGA Works Collegiate Championship, Mardi Gras Golf Invitational and Black College Golf Coaches Association Houston National Invitational. Previously, many HBCU golf teams would not have the resources to compete at these events or would have to drive, which requires student-athletes to take multiple days away from school.
“The golf program at Winston-Salem State University came back to the school for the first time in 10 years last fall. This year, the United Airlines grant will impact our program’s ability to travel tremendously,” said Winston-Salem State University Head Golf Coach Charles Penny, II. “It now allows for our program to consider more tournaments to play in the fall. Specifically, this past fall, we were only able to play one tournament due to limitations in our travel budget. This fall, we will be able to add close to four.”
For the student-athletes, the opportunity to compete in more tournaments isn’t just about improving their game – the relationships they build off the course with mentors and golf and industry professionals can make a difference in their ability to pursue the sport as a career.
“We are super grateful and excited to have the support of United Airlines to make for excellent and safe travel to our tournaments,” said Christyn Carr, a golfer at North Carolina A&T State University. “It gives us the freedom to compete in different states that we have not been able to go to before, and it allows us to have more time on the course than on the road. I’m looking forward to reaching new heights this semester, not only in our game but in our travel.”
United is the “Official Airline of the PGA TOUR,” and the organization’s first sponsor to support the TOUR’s larger HBCU Grant Program. Developed in early 2021 by the TOUR’s HBCU task force, the program aims to leverage the TOUR’s partner network in order to offset the financial burdens many HBCU golf programs face.
“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I’d like to express my appreciation to longtime partner United Airlines for their support of HBCU golf programs and the many collegiate golfers who will benefit going forward,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “We have made a pledge to help diversify the landscape of competitive golf and this collaboration between United Airlines and these college and universities will be a significant step towards leveling the playing field and enhancing the student-athlete experience along the way.”
In addition to travel grants, student athletes will have access to mentorship and career coaching from United employees. This summer, United will work with golf influencer Roger Steele along with select PGA TOUR professionals to showcase the depth and skill HBCU golf programs offer across the country through a four-part digital content series. To keep up with the HBCU golf programs travel journeys this season, follow @United and @PGATOUR on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
United’s travel grants through the PGA TOUR’s HBCU Grant Program will serve 51 current golf programs offered at HBCUs, including:
Men’s Golf
Alabama A&M University
Morehouse College
Alabama State University
North Carolina A&T State University
Bishop State Community College
North Carolina Central University
Bluefield State College
Prairie View A&M University
Chicago State University
Saint Augustine’s University
Elizabeth City State University
Savannah State University
Fayetteville State University
Talladega College
Fisk University
Tennessee State University
Florida A&M University
Texas Southern University
Howard University
University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Jarvis Christian College
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Johnson C. Smith University
Virginia State University
Kentucky State University
Virginia Union University
LeMoyne-Owen College
West Virginia State University
Lincoln University
Wilberforce University
Livingstone College
Winston-Salem State University
Miles College
Women’s Golf
Alabama State University
Lincoln University
Bethune-Cookman University
North Carolina A&T State University
Bishop State Community College
North Carolina Central University
Bluefield State College
Prairie View A&M University
Chicago State University
Savannah State University
Delaware State University
Tennessee State University
Fisk University
Texas Southern University
Howard University
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Jarvis Christian College
Wilberforce University
